[February 07, 2013]At the Monday evening voting
session of the Lincoln City Council, aldermen unanimously approved
zoning changes that would pave the way for two new property
developments: the Humane Society of Logan County Pet Cemetery and
the Plowfield housing development.

On Jan. 29, the city's building and safety and code officer, John
Lebegue, offered a report from the Lincoln Planning Commission,
along with their recommendations for approving requests made by HSLC
and Brinshore Development.

Pet cemetery

Lebegue told the council that for the type of land-use to create
a pet cemetery, there had to be a hearing by the planning
commission. The commission heard the request from the HSLC on Jan.
17.

In researching city code, it was discovered that for the city to
approve the planning commission's recommendation to allow the
cemetery, a change would have to be made in the city code.

The code applied to limiting the number of cemeteries allowed
within the city of Lincoln. Lebegue said the code specified
exceptions, and the pet cemetery would have to be added to those
exceptions.

Lebegue said his understanding was that the HSLC would sell plots
to individuals. He said one complication would be to figure out how
those plots should be subdivided.

Marilyn Wheat of the HSLC was on hand at the Tuesday evening
council meeting, along with several other representatives of the
organization. Wheat took the podium to field questions from the
council.

Mayor Keith Snyder asked her to explain how the cemetery would be
developed. Wheat said the land, which is connected to the HSLC
shelter, would be divided into sections, with the first section to
be filled being labeled as C1. She said there would be 600
2-by-3-foot plots, a chapel and a storage building on the property.

She told the council that the plots would not actually be sold.
The HSLC will maintain ownership of all the property and will offer
"forever leases" to those who wish to lay their pets to rest.

She said the HSLC will also sell urns and plaques, with all the
profits going to support the animal shelter.

David Armbrust asked her to verify that all the burials will be
for cremation remains only, and Wheat said that was correct. She
added that all the veterinary services in Lincoln provide cremation.

Plowfield Square

On Jan. 17 the commission also reviewed documents from Brinshore
for the development of Plowfield Square. Lebegue said the
documentation handed to the commission was very well laid out and
well received by the commission.

Lebegue said that in the development there will be three building
types or styles so that the area will have interest and be
attractive.

He said the development was what he would call "workforce"
housing, designed for the working-class family.

He also said the homes were not typical condo style, but rather
fell in the class of townhomes. He noted there would be six
one-bedroom units, 20 two-bedroom and 16 three-bedroom units.

Lebegue said the development was also a community style with
wide-open spaces, room for outdoor living, a community center with
gathering space and a kitchen, playground, and even a space for a
community garden. He also noted there would be a full-time property
manager on-site and a maintenance crew.

Marty Neitzel wondered what the rent costs would be, and Lebegue
said he didn't have that information. Neitzel then asked if it was
federal housing. Lebegue said it was more independent housing. He
said there was a threshold of income that residents would have to
meet. He said there was also going to be a fairly rigorous review
before they are allowed to lease, to be sure they could afford to
live there.

He also noted there were some subsidies involved, but he thought
that was more for the development stages than for the rent. City
engineer Darren Forgy said he, too, was of the understanding that
the subsidy was for the development and not necessarily for the
rent.

Jonie Tibbs questioned the code change. She said that the
property was currently coded as "I" or industrial. The change would
be to an "R-3."

The definition of an R-3 is:

The residential planned unit
development district is an optional zoning district which permits
developers freedom in the design, layout and use of building types
on any parcel of land of five (5) acres or more in size; where the
developer agrees to develop the property in accordance with a
specific site plan; and where the submission of the zoning request
is processed simultaneously with the request for subdivision of the
property.

Such developments
may consist of individual lots, and/or common building sites and may
permit the mixture of building types. Common open space reservation
or dedication for recreational, aesthetic or buffering purposes
shall be considered an essential and major element of the plan. In
certain cases where the corporate authorities of the city deem it
appropriate to the proper development of the project, commercial and
office facilities may be integrated into the plan.

Tibbs noted R-3 is not as restrictive as an R-1 or R-2. Lebegue
confirmed that the R-3 was less restrictive for the developer and
would allow them the ability to place structures as they have them
laid out in the plat.

On Monday evening prior to voting, the plat (click
here for PDF version) was provided to the
council for them to see how the development will lay out. Brinshore's local representation, Andrew P. Affrunti of Gehlbach Law
Offices, was also on hand to field questions, though none were
asked.

When the item came to a vote, all eight aldermen present voted in
favor of the zoning changes. Aldermen David Armbrust and David
Wilmert were absent for the evening. In addition Mayor Keith Snyder
was absent due to the death of his father-in-law. Melody Anderson
served as mayor pro tem for the voting session.